NSC Announces Sport, Recreation And Play Innovation Award Winners

The National Sports and Physical Activity Convention (NSC) ran for another year in 2021, presenting a program of events, networking and professional development opportunities hosted from Thursday 11 November through to Thursday 9 December 2021, announcing award winners on the final night.

In the final evening, the Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Award winners for 2021 were announced, presented by Paralympics Australia president, Jock O’Callaghan.

The 2021 event provided a hybrid delivery for its activities, with a mix of online keynote sessions, over 40 hours of on-demand workshops and the NSC Oration in person at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

NSC governor, Martin Sheppard, acknowledged the challenges the sporting industry had faced in the past two years.

“This year we had the largest number of applications, and what a way to celebrate such a challenging two years,” Sheppard said.

“Tonight we recognised the success of our industry and what organisations are doing to encourage Australians to be more active through innovative approaches,” he said.

The finalists and winners for each category are:

1. Programs, Activities and Events

Innovative programs, activities and events that have been developed to encourage the community to be more active.

• Cumberland City Council (NSW) – Healthy Kids Initiative
• AusCycling – Brisbane Cycling Festival
• Belgravia Leisure – e-Learning Programs for mental health and industry training

Winner: Cumberland City Council (NSW) – Healthy Kids Initiative

2. Sports Surfaces

Innovative solutions that allow greater intensity and durability of natural, hybrid and synthetic or hard court surfaces that allow for greater usage.

• Coffs Harbour City Council (NSW) – Coffs Coast Sport & Leisure Park – Synthetic Fields
• Landscape Solutions – Kolombo Reserve
• Stadiums Queensland – Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) Bermudagrass Turf Trial

Winner: Stadiums Queensland – Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) Bermudagrass Turf Trial

3. Technological Solutions and Products

Business to business or the business to consumer innovations that encourage more people to participate, play and recreate.

• AusCycling – Ride Nation Marketplace
• University of Western Australia – KIDDO: Improve your move
• The Y NSW – Gymnastics Online Classes

Winner: AusCycling – Ride Nation Marketplace

4. Playground Design and Development

Designs and developments that allow and encourage more children to play, have fun and be active.

• A SPACE AUSTRALIA – Guyatt Park, Park Warrior Course
• IPAN Deakin University (Vic) – ProjectPARK
• Place Design Group – Variety Livvi’s Place, Glenfield

Winner: Place Design Group – Variety Livvi’s Place, Glenfield

5. Marketing and Communication Innovations

The packaging and communications of an opportunity in a manner that has innovatively encouraged more people to be active.

• Golf Australia – Visionary of the Year
• City of Swan (WA) – Swan Active – COVID 19 Response For Kids
• Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT – How I Roll

Winner: Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT – How I Roll

6. Facility Design and Development

Innovative, sustainable design and management that creates an environment where people are active.

• Dwp | Design Worldwide Partnership – Eric Tweedale Stadium
• City of Swan (WA) – Beechboro Community Hub
• Monash Council (Vic) – Oakleigh Recreation Centre Redevelopment

Winner: Monash Council (Vic) – Oakleigh Recreation Centre Redevelopment

7. Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Award Overall Winner

The overall winner is “How I Roll” by Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT.

How I Roll presents as a song, funded by the NSW Office of Sport, describing the tenacity and spirit of the girls and women in the community.

Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT partnered with Australian ARIA award winner Casey Donovan on vocals and Mo MacRae for directorship.

As a result of “How I Roll” and other initiatives, female membership of Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT has increased by 29% to 35% in the last 12 months.